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Cypress  Lumber 


. . and  Its  Uses 


SECOND  EDITION. 

Revised  and  Enlarged. 


Copyright,  1895, 

By 

The  A.  T.  Stearns  Lumber  Company. 

Main  Office,  Mills,  and  Wharves  at  Neponset,  \ 

Branch  Office  and  Exhibit,  166  Devonshire  Street,  ?■  BOSTON. 
Branch  Office  and  Warerooms,  104  Friend  Street,  ' 


P.  O.  Address,  Neponset,  Boston,  Mass. 


s 


Preface  to  Second  Edition. 


THE  demand  for  our  first  edition  of  “CYPRESS 
LUMBER  AND  ITS  PISES”  has  been  so  great 
that  it  is  already  exhausted.  Inquiries  by  every  mail  for 
the  book  and  for  information  in  regard  to  cypress  indicate 
that  it  has  supplied,  in  a measure,  at  least,  a distinctly  felt 
want,  which  we  trust  this  second  edition  will  do  much  to 
gratify. 

A new  feature  of  this  edition  will  be  its  half-tone 
illustrations,  reproducing  views  in  connection  with  our 
plant  at  Neponset,  together  with  a few  photographs  ot 
buildings,  public  and  private,  in  the  construction  or  finish- 
ing of  which  our  cypress  specialties  have  been  used. 

We  regret  that  our  space  does  not  permit  us  to  re- 
produce a greater  number  of  these  buildings,  but  we 
trust  that  our  readers  will  be  sufficiently  interested  to 
come  and  let  us  show  them  some  of  the  originals,  ol 
which  there  are  thousands. 


OFFICE,  MILLS,  AND  WHARVES  AT  NEPONSET,  BOSTON. 


Preface  to  First  Edition. 


E are  in  daily  receipt  of  so  many  inquiries  con- 


cerning cypress,  its  character,  durability,  appear- 


ance, the  manner  of  finishing,  etc.,  that  we  are  led  to 
issue  this  rather  comprehensive  circular,  believing  that 
our  customers  will  abstract  for  themselves  such  facts  as 
may  be  of  interest  to  them. 

Our  Mr.  A.  T.  Stearns,  the  founder  and  president  of 
this  company,  was  the  pioneer  in  the  introduction  of 
cypress  in  the  North,  and  has  long  been  recognized  as 
the  leading  dealer  in  the  wood.  The  company  has  fol- 
lowed in  his  footsteps,  and  continues  to  make  a prominent 
specialty  of  this  lumber. 


5 


OUR  DEVONSHIRE  STREET  OFFICE. 


SOME  OF  OUR  EMPLOYEES. 

6 


How  to  Reach  Us. 


OUR  main  office,  mills,  wharves,  dryhouses,  etc.,  are  situated  at 
Neponset,  in  that  portion  of  the  city  of  Boston  formerly  com- 
prising the  town  of  Dorchester. 

Customers  wishing  to  visit  our  main  office  or  mills  should  take 
the  train  in  Boston  at  the  Kneeland  Street  station  of  the  New  York,  New 
Haven  &:  Hartford  Railroad.  The  distance  from  Boston  to  Neponset 
is  less  than  five  miles,  and  the  time  in  transit  but  from  ten  to  fifteen 
minutes.  There  is  also  communication  every  few  minutes  by  electric 
cars. 

For  the  convenience  of  customers  and  others  who  have  not  suf- 
ficient time  to  visit  Neponset,  we  have  opened  branch  offices  in  the  city 
proper  at  166  Devonshire  Street  and  at  104  Friend  Street.  At  both 
places  visitors  will  find  an  exhibit  of  cypress  and  other  woods,  from 
which  some  idea  can  be  formed  as  to  the  exceptional  character  of  our 
work  and  the  superiority  of  our  lumber. 

At  104  Friend  Street  may  also  be  found  warerooms  containing 
a large  stock,  embracing  many  of  our  prominent  specialties. 

Our  Post-Office  Address  is  Neponset,  Boston,  Mass.,  mail 
matter  being  delivered  there  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning  and  at  in- 
tervals throughout  the  day.  Customers  will  prevent  delay  and  thus  se- 
cure more  prompt  attention  to  their  wants  if  they  will  address  us 
accordingly. 

All  of  our  offices  are  connected  by  telephone,  and  persons  at  a dis- 
tance may  find  our  long  distance  service  of  convenience  to  them. 


Our  Facilities. 


WITH  mills  at  the  South  sawing  cypress,  hard  pine,  and  ash 
expressly  for  us,  with  yards  North  and  South  containing 
many  millions  of  feet  on  sticks,  seasoning  at  all  times,  with 
dryhouses  at  Neponset  holding  more  than  a million  feet  and  having  an 


• OFFICE  AND  WAREROOMS  AT  104  FRIEND  STREET. 

almost  unlimited  capacity,  with  mills  containing  new  and  improved  ma- 
chinery, no  expense  is  spared  to  reach  the  best  results  in  supplying  an 
ever-increasing  demand. 


8 


OUR  FACILITIES. 


9 


We  wish  to  say  to  all  users  of  wood  for  building  material,  including 
everything  from  mud  sills  to  finials,  that  if  they  will  look  carefully  into 
the  merits  of  our  cypress,  and  give  us  an  opportunity  to  tell  them  what 
we  know,  and  show  them  what  we  have  to  offer,  we  feel  sure  that  it  will 
prove  to  their  manifest  advantage. 

We  have  exceptional  facilities  for  furnishing  stock,  in  great  variety 
and  in  any  quantity.  We  have  the  latest  improvements  in  sandpaper- 
ing machines  for  smoothing  finish,  sheathing,  etc.,  at  a great  saving 
over  the  cost  of  hand  smoothing. 

We  solicit  the  correspondence  of  all  who  are  interested  and  shall 
at  all  times  be  pleased  to  answer  inquiries  or  to  fill  orders,  large  or 
small. 


Florida  Gulf  Cypress. 

HERE  are  numerous  species  of  cypress  and  as 
many  qualities  as  there  are  species.  In  fact, 
there  are  almost  as  many  grades  of  this  wood 
as  there  are  localities  in  which  it  grows.  The 
wood  of  each  locality  possesses  its  own  pecu- 
liarities, that  grown  near  the  coast  of  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  and  known  as  Gulf  Cypress 
being  admittedly  the  best. 

We  have  made  careful  studies  to  determine 
where,  upon  the  extensive  Gulf  coast,  is  grown  the  cypress 
best  adapted  to  our  work,  and  our  success  with  this  wood  and  the 
reputation  our  products  have  attained  is  the  best  possible  proof  that 
our  conclusions  have  been  correct.  We  have  used  the  Louisiana  red 
cypress,  the  Alabama  cypress,  and  cypress  from  Georgia  and  the  At- 
lantic coast,  and  have  found  all  of  them  inferior  to  ours. 

We  have  no  hesitation  in  affirming  that  our  cypress  specialties  have 
given  more  universal  satisfaction  than  any  other  in  the  market.  Our 
cypress  is  of  a much  finer  grain,  is  more  easily  worked,  and  is  capable 
of  receiving  a much  better  finish  than  the  cypress  of 
other  localities. 

Cypress  which  grows  a short  distance  further 
North  is  apt  to  be  more  shaky  and  is  of  an  inferior 
color  and  quality.  Care  should  be  exercised  by 
those  intending  to  use  cypress  to  so  word  their 
specifications  or  orders  that  only  the  best  of  Gulf  stock 
will  be  furnished  them. 


CYPRESS  CAMP. 


FLORIDA  GULF  CYPRESS. 


I I 

In  the  following  pages  our  claims  in  behalf  of  cypress  are  made 
primarily  for  our  own  stock,  that  is,  for  our  cypress.  We  cannot,  of 
course,  undertake  to  indorse  inferior  qualities  or  stock  which  has  been 
improperly  manufactured  or  insufficiently  seasoned. 

The  faults  which  we  most  frequently  hear  that  cypress  possesses 
are  largely  those  common  to  all  woods,  but  which  in  any  new  wood 
attract  attention.  But  there  are  imaginary  faults  too  numerous  to 
mention  which  are  far  more  troublesome.  If,  however,  our  readers 
will  look  about  them  they  will  find  that  our  Florida  Gulf  cypress 
possesses  more  real  merits  and  fewer  faults  than  any  of  the  woods 
now  in  use  for  building  purposes. 

We  have  many  voluntary  testimonials  of  appreciation  of  this  fact 
from  architects,  builders,  and  owners  who  have  recommended  and  used 
our  cypress. 


Uses  and  Characteristics  of  Cypress. 


ONE  of  the  most  notable  characteristics  of  our  cypress  is  that  the 
longer  it  is  seasoned  the  better  it  becomes.  It  may  be  piled 
up  and  left  untouched  for  years  and  during  that  time  will  be 
continually  growing  better  and  more  valuable. 

Cypress  is  cheaper  than  pine,  and  it  will  stand  the  weather  better. 


RESIDENCE  AT  BROOKLINE,  F.  M.  WAKEFIELD,  ARCHITECT. 

It  will  shrink  and  swell  less  than  pine  or  other  woods. 

It  will  take  paint  better  than  spruce  or  pine  and  the  paint  will  not 
peel  off. 

It  is  more  durable  than  any  of  the  woods  in  common  use. 

It  is  not  subject  to  the  ravages  of  insects  and  vermin  and  does  not 
afford  a harbor  for  them. 


12 


USES  AND  CHARACTERISTICS  OF  CYPRESS. 


It  contains  no  pitch  and  will  resist  fire  much  longer  than  othei 
woods;  its  tendency  when  exposed  to  fire  being  to  smolder  lathei 
than  to  burst  into  flame. 

Our  cypress  has  a beautiful  grain  and  much  more  character  than 
pine,  or  whitewood,  or  than  any  of  the  usual  run  of  woods. 

It  is  a species  of  cedar,  and  is  used  at  the  present  time  for  almost 


CHURCH  AT  NEWTONVILLE,  CRAM,  WENTWORTH  & GOODHUE,  ARCHITECTS. 

every  purpose  for  which  lumber  is  sold.  1 here  is  no  wood  so  well 
adapted  to  such  a great  variety  of  purposes. 

It  is  exceptionally  well  adapted  for  all  interior  and  exterior  work  in 
the  construction  of  residences,  stores,  office  buildings,  churches, 
schoolhouses,  greenhouses,  and  other  buildings,  both  public  and  pi  irate. 


i4 


USES  AND  CHARACTERISTICS  OF  CYPRESS. 


For  floors  for  mills,  factories,  stables,  cellars,  etc.,  or  for  other  pur- 
poses where  the  wood  is  likely  to  be  exposed  to  moisture,  there  is 
nothing  so  durable  among  available  woods.  For  such  purposes  a 
cheaper  grade  of  lumber,  which  is  just  as  durable,  is  usually  furnished. 

Cypress  has  been  used  in  some  instances  for  framework  of  wooden 


OLD  DORCHESTER  CLUB  HOUSE,  WM.  H.  BESARICK,  ARCHITECT. 

buildings  on  account  of  its  fire-resisting  qualities,  but  its  cost  as  com- 
pared with  spruce  prevents  its  use  to  a great  extent  for  this  purpose. 

Extremes  seem  to  meet  in  this  wonderful  wood,  for,  while  in  some 
sections  of  the  South  it  is  used,  among  other  things,  as  a substitute  for 
paving  stones,  it  is  used  to  some  extent  by  Northern  manufacturers  in 
the  building  of  pianos,  organs,  and  other  fine  musical  instruments. 


USES  AND  CHARACTERISTICS  OF  CYPRESS. 


The  following  extract  is  taken  from  the  Scientific  American  of  Decem- 
ber, 1891  : — 

••  Cypress  timber,  owing  to  its  beautiful  finish,  and  durability,  and  lightness 
has  long  been  in  favor  in  the  Gulf  Coast  States,  and  is  fast  growing  in  favor 
in  the  more  Northern  States,  especially  among  those  who  have  tested  and 
know  its  many  good  qualities. 

••  Cypress  is  especially  adapted  to  building  tanks,  tubs,  and  vats,  and  when 
used  for  such  purposes  it  never  will  decay. 

It  also  makes  better  sash,  doors,  blinds,  and  frames  than  white  pine,  and 
many  railroads  use  it  for  water  tanks.  It  stands  the  weather  better  than 
white  pine ; does  not  warp  or  twist  and  does  not  shrink  or  swell. 

••  No  lumber  in  the  world  equals  it  for  tanks,  vats,  siding  or  weather  boards, 
exposed  floors  or  shingles.  Siding  can  be  used  and  not  painted,  and  will  last 
fifty  years. 

••  The  durability  of  cypress  is  illustrated  by  the  examples  of  roofs  in  Mobile 
and  New  Orleans  in  good  order  laid  sixty  years  ago.” 

(From  the  New  York  Lumber  frade Journal ' F eb.  15,  1S95.) 

“In  building  the  Tampa  Bay  Hotel  I used  nearly  one  thousand  cypress 
doors,  and  although  this  hotel  has  been  completed  some  years,  yet  not 
one  of  the  cypress  doors  has  required  altering  in  any  way,  and  they  to-day 
hang  just  as  true  as  when  first  put  in  the  building.  If  I were  to  build 
another  hotel  similar  to  this  magnificent  structure,  I would  use  cypress, 
not  only  for  doors,  but  for  sash,  and  in  fact  for  all  the  woodwork.” 

The  above  is  an  official  report.  , 


Durability  of  Cypress. 


^^jYPRESS  has  a world-wide  reputation  for  durability.  This  has 
been  demonstrated  under  many  conditions  most  adverse  to  other 
woods. 

History  teems  with  facts  concerning  the  wonderful  life  of  this  wood, 
but  our  space  does  not  permit  of  much  more  than  a bare  statement  of 
the  fact. 


NAHANT  PUBLIC  LIBRARY,  BALL  & DABNEY,  ARCHITECTS. 

We  desire,  however,  to  call  attention  to  a few  newspaper  notices 
which  have  come  under  our  observation,  and  will  then  refer  our  readers 
to  the  encyclopedias  and  to  a few  articles  in  the  back  part  of  this  book 
from  the  pens  of  more  able  writers  upon  the  subject. 


DURABILITY  OF  CYPRESS. 


17 


(From  the  Northwestern  Lumberman , June,  1S94.) 

The  phenomenal  durability  of  cypress  is  believed  to  proceed  from  the 
presence  in  its  natural  chemical  composition  of  an  acid  having  the  active 
qualities  of  creosote.  There  is,  of  course,  some  natural  cause  for  its  demon- 
strated proof  against  the  ravages  of  water,  air,  and  time,  and  that  cause  is 
equally,  of  course,  of  a chemical  character.  In  other  words,  nature  seems  to 
have  treated  cypress  in  a manner  somewhat  corresponding,  in  its  results,  at 
least,  to  that  of  the  artificial  use  of  creosote  as  a preservative. 


SCHOOLHOUSE  AT  CAMBRIDGE,  C.  H.  MCCLARE,  ARCHITECT. 


(From  the  Northwestern  Lumberman  of  Jan.  15,  1887.) 

“At  Charleston,  the  other  day,  the  workmen,  in  examining  the  earthquake- 
shattered  tower  of  St.  Michael’s  Church,  found  a coffin  of  cypress  bearing 
the  date  1678. 

“ The  wood  was  sound  throughout,  although  the  bones  in  the  coffin  had 
long  ago  turned  to  dust.” 


DURABILITY  OF  CYPRESS. 


1 8 


The  following  appeared  some  time  since  in  the  Boston  Evening 
Record , taken  from  the  Richmond  Despatch. 

AN  OLD  COLONIAL  MANSION. 

“This  house,  from  a tablet  over  the  frontdoor,  was  built  by  Michael  Braun 
(now  spelled  Brown)  in  1776,  and  is  still  owned  and  occupied  by  his  descend- 
ants. The  fireplace  is  eight  feet  wide,  five  feet  high,  and  five  feet  deep. 
_ sufficiently  large  to  roast  an  ox,  and  of  sufficient  size  to  contain  over  a cord 
of  wood.  The  house  is  forty  by  thirty,  two  stories,  and  is  built  of  granite 
obtained  near  by;  windows  arched  with  granite  blocks  about  the  size  of 


RESIDENCE  AT  BROOKLINE,  A.  G.  BREWER,  ARCHITECT  AND  BUILDER. 

bricks  laid  in  mortar,  now  so  strong  that  it  would  require  a sharp  pick  and  a 
stron-arm  to  remove  it;  walls  three  feet  thick;  doors  and  window  facings 
of  black  walnut ; and  the  house  covered  with  cypress  shingles  %***£"  '” 
such  a state  of  preservation  that  they  have  only  been removed  since ,880  (104 
years V These  shingles  must  have  been  wagoned  from  or  near  Charleston 
South  Carolina.  180  to  200  miles.  The  house  was  built  on  the  then  grea 
traveled  road  from  James  River  to  the  Catawba  Indians  by  the  trading  fort 
on  the  Yadkin  River.  This  fort  was  the  home  of  the  Lapona  Indians  when 
Lawson  who  was  sent  from  England  by  the  proprietors,  visited  it  in  1700. 


For  Exterior  Work, 


WOOD  for  this  purpose 
should  possess  great 
durability,  although  too 
little  attention  is  often  paid  to 
this  point.  The  exterior  finish  of 
a house  or  other  wooden  building, 
including  shingles,  clapboards,  gut- 
ters, conductors,  piazza  sills,  and 
frame,  together  with  columns, 
rails,  balusters,  etc.,  constitutes  no 
small  fraction  of  the  cost  of  the 
building,  and  if  decay  is  rapid,  as 
is  the  case  with  nearly  all  woods 
commonly  used  for  outside  work, 
repairs  and  the  accompanying  expense 
recur  with  a frequency  not  at  all  desirable. 
Cypress  costs  less  than  any  other  suitable  wood  for  exterior  work  ; 
yet,  were  its  cost  considerable  more,  it  would  still  be  much  more  eco- 
nomical to  use  than  something  more  perishable. 

Cypress  is  not  only  more  durable,  but  it  will  take  paint  better  than 
other  woods  and  the  paint  will  not  peel  oft.  This  is  another  point  of 
great  importance,  for  the  expense  of  repainting  is  considerable,  and  no 
painter  will  guarantee  a permanently  nice  appearance  where  paint  has 
once  peeled. 

\Ye  have  seen  buildings  shingled  with  cypress  upon  both  roof  and 
walls  upon  which  no  stain  or  paint  has  been  used.  In  time  such 
buildings  take  on  a beautiful  gray  color  which  is  greatly  admired  by 
many  people,  especially  for  a country,  seashore,  or  suburban  residence. 
The  natural  qualities  of  the  wood  make  it  possible  to  use  either  shingles 
or  clapboards  in  this  way,  without  paint,  and  there  is  probably  no  other 
wood  upon  which  vines  can  be  grown  with  so  much  safety  from  in- 
jurious effects. 


19 


For  Interior  Finish. 


YPRESS  for  interiors  has  now  a conspicuous  place  in  the  favor 
j of  architects,  builders,  and  owners.  The  varied  effects  obtain- 
able  are  a source  of  surprise  to  everybody  who  is  not  familiar 
with  it,  and  we  can  show  residences  where  nearly  every  room  is  of  an 
entirely  different  character,  although  finished  in  the  same  wood. 


INTERIOR  AT  FALL  RIVER,  CRAM,  WENTWORTH  & GOODHUE. 


It  is  susceptible  of  a very  high  polish,  and  when  finished  in  the 
natural  color  of  the  wood  is  very  handsome  ; some  of  it,  in  fact,  is 
equal  in  beauty  to  any  of  the  more  expensive  finishing  woods  in  the 
market,  and,  finished  in  this  way,  it  requires  little  or  no  attention  to 
preserve  a fine  appearance  for  many  years. 


20 


FOR  INTERIOR  FINISH. 


It  is  also  highly  recommended  by  prominent  architects  as  a basis 
for  the  ivory-white  finish  which  many  people  fancy,  but,  in  our  opinion, 
the  wood,  when  used  for  interiors,  possesses  too  much  natural  beauty 
to  be  covered  with  paint. 

Cypress  is  used  to  a considerable  extent  for  floors  for  residences 
where  they  are  not  to  be  subjected  to  much  wear.  For  carpeting  or 
when  bestrewn  with  rugs  they  are  very  nice  and  have  many  advan- 
tages. They  are  not  so  noisy  as  hardwood  floors  and  the  repugnance 
which  bugs  and  vermin  are  said  to  have  for  cypress  ought  to  be  some 
recommendation. 


BUSINESS  BUILDING,  AUGUSTA,  ME.,  J,  C.  SPOFFORD,  ARCHITECT. 


Our  Door  Factory. 


OUR  doors  are  made  to  order  in  the 
best  possible  manner  from  care- 
fully selected  woods  of  all  kinds. 
Our  facilities  in  this  department  are 
unsurpassed  for  turning  out  veneered  or 
solid  work  of  every  description. 

Our  ash  and  cypress  doors  are  usu- 
ally made  solid,  except  when  rooms  are 
to  be  finished  in  a variety  of  woods,  in 
which  case  it  becomes  necessary  to  furnish 
veneered  work. 

f We  manufacture  doors  of  oak,  sycamore, 

mahogany,  and  all  the  other  woods  used  for 
the  purpose  and  our  work  in  the  hardwood  line 
cannot  be  excelled.  Hardwood  doors,  except  in  the  case  of  our 
Florida  ash,  are  generally  veneered  upon  a core  of  softer  wood. 


SUMMER  RESIDENCE  AT  POINT  ALLERTON,  ARTHUR  G.  EVERETT,  ARCHITECT. 


Solid  Cypress  Doors. 


Ol'R  solid  cypress  doors  have  already  gained  a wide  and  enviable 
reputation  for  themselves.  Made  from  the  best  of  Gulf  stock, 
we  make  a point  of  warranting  every  door.  They  will  stand 
better  than  pine.  Comparison  of  our  doors  with  those  of  other  makers 
will  convince  all  of  their  superiority,  both  as  to  construction  and 


DELIVERY  HALL,  NAHANT  PUBLIC  LIBRARY,  BALL  & DABNEY,  ARCHITECTS. 

appearance.  For  beauty  they  have  no  equal,  and  for  rich  and  varied 
effects  there  is  no  wood  available  for  the  purpose  which  can  compare 
with  our  cypress.  We  wish  that  everybody  who  is  building  or  ever 
expects  to  build  would  favor  us  with  an  inspection  of  our  stock. 


24 


SOLID  CYPRESS  DOORS. 


Like  most  other  good  things,  our  doors  have  met  with  a competition, 
which  in  itself  is  the  strongest  possible  recommendation  and  indorse- 
ment. Many  manufacturers  are  now  claiming  that  their  doors  are 
“just  as  good  as  Stearns’.”  That  claim  was  doubtless  what  influenced 
the  builder  referred  to  in  the  following  circular  to  venture  from  the 
path  of  safety.  This  circular  is  one  which  we  felt  compelled  to  issue, 
in  justice  to  ourselves  and  our  customers,  and  which  we  think  should 
be  reprinted  here. 

Caution. 

“ Some  months  ago  we  offered  to  furnish  a lot  of  cypress  doors  for  a 
building  in  a neighboring  town,  and,  as  is  customary  with  us,  guaranteed 
that  they  would  stand.  In  the  course  of  time  the  building  was  finished 
and  occupied. 

“Complaints  soon  followed,  and  the  architect,  after  investigation, 
reported  to  us  that  the  doors,  with  but  four  exceptions , had  ‘ all  gone  to 
pieces,’  as  he  expressed  it.  It  was  supposed  by  the  architect  and 
owner  that  the  builder  had  purchased  the  doors  from  this  company,  as 
it  was  agreed  he  should  do  so,  and  the  man  himself  asserted  that  he 
had  actually  purchased  our  doors. 

“Further  investigation  developed  the  fact  that  he  actually  had  pur- 
chased four  of  our  doors  through  a local  dealer,  and  they  were  the  four 
exceptions  noted  above  which,  to  use  the  architect's  own  words,  had 
not  started  a hair.  We  are  now  making  doors  to  take  the  place  of 
those  which  the  builder  had  purchased  elsewhere. 

“ It  is  not  necessary  for  us  to  point  a moral  in  this,  but,  as  it  is  one  of 
many  similar  cases,  we  think  a word  of  caution  may  not  come  amiss.” 


RESIDENCE  AT  DORCHESTER,  G.  WARREN  HAYWARD,  ARCHITECT. 


Solid  Doors  of  Florida  Ash, 


IN  our  first  edition  brief  reference  was  made  to  our  Florida  ash. 
This  wood  has  now  taken  a conspicuous  place  among  our  choice 
specialties.  It  has  proven  to  be  an  exceptionally  choice  variety, 
of  light  and  uniform  color,  and  has  been  warmly  received.  Specimens 
of  interior  work  in  this  wood  may  be  seen  at  our  several  offices,  and 
we  shall  be  greatly  pleased  to  show  them.  At  our  Devonshire  Street 
office  we  have  a door  made  of  this  Florida  ash  and  finished  in  white 
shellac,  which  is  pronounced  superb,  and  we  can  also  show  bank 
interiors,  residences,  and  other  buildings  finished  in  this  wood. 


RESIDENCE  AT  DORCHESTER,  LORING  & PHIPPS,  ARCHITECTS. 

We  exercise  the  same  careful  selection  of  stock  in  the  manufacture  of 
our  solid  ash  doors,  which  characterizes  all  of  our  work,  and  every  one 
is  warranted  to  stand. 

We  offer  our  Florida  ash  for  all  interior  work  with  the  utmost 
confidence. 


z6 


CHELSEA  SAVINGS  BANK,  FINISHED  IN  FLORIDA  ASH,  S.  EDWIN  TOBEY,  ARCHITECT. 


Cypress  Sash. 


WE  have  been  obliged 
to  greatly  increase 
facilities  in  our  sash 
factory  in  order  to  meet  the 
increased  demand  for  cypress 
sash.  People  who  have  be- 
come convinced  of  the  supe- 
riority of  cypress  are  unwilling 
to  use  inferior  woods,  espe- 
cially for  windows,  which  are 
subjected  to  more  variable 
conditions  than  almost  any  other 
portions  of  a building.  Exposed  on  the 
inside  now  to  the  effect  of  furnace  heat  and  then  to  the  humid  atmos- 
phere of  summer,  with  all  the  intermediate  changes,  and  on  the  outside 
to  the  intense  heat  of  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun,  followed,  perhaps, 
by  rain  or  snow ; subjected  to  heat  and  cold,  wet  and  dry,  alternately  ; 
required  at  all  times  and  under  all  circumstances  to  work  up  and 
down,  freely  and  easily,  without  being  loose  enough  to  permit  the  ingress 
of  cold  or  storm,  and  expected  to  resist  decay  and  abuse  under  all 
conceivable  conditions  most  adverse  to  durability,  it  may  well  be  said 
that  nothing  but  the  best  is  good  enough  for  windows. 

We  are  sending  our  cypress  sash  and  cypress  store  fronts  all  over 
New  England,  and  they  are  admittedly  superior  to  all  others. 


28 


Cypress  Clapboards. 

WE  now  carry  in  stock,  ready  for 
immediate  delivery,  a full  as- 
sortment of  widths  and  qual- 
ities, in  random  lengths  up  to  16  ft.; 
longer  ones  can  be  furnished,  if  desired. 

The  advantages  in  using  long  clap- 
boards are  many.  There  is  much  less 
waste  in  cutting  to  length,  short  splicing 
is  entirely  avoided,  and  better  work  is 
the  result. 

These  cypress  clapboards  are  butted 
ready  for  use,  and  can  be  furnished 
either  plain  or  rabbeted  (3,  4,  5,  or  6 
in.),  in  all  qualities  as  follows  : — 

RIFT.  Rift  grain  and  free  from  all 
defects. 

CHOICE.  First  quality,  differing 
only  in  not  being  rift  sawed. 

CLEAR.  More  or  less  sappy,  but 
otherwise  free  from  all  defects. 

We  call  attention  to  cuts  herewith, 
showing  both  the  plain  and  rabbeted 
clapboards.  It  will  be  seen  that  in  one 
case  the  nail  passes  through  two  clap- 
boards. while  in  the  other  it  passes 
through  only  one, — a manifest  advan- 
tage in  favor  of  the  latter  in  case  of 
shrinkage,  which  in  the  first  case  may 
result  in  splitting.  This  rabbeting  is  a 
new  feature  of  our  own,  which  is  meet- 
ing with  great  favor.  Its  purpose  is  to 
make  tighter  joints,  and  to  enable  them 
to  be  laid  more  rapidly  and  with  greater 


29 


3° 


CYPRESS  CLAPBOARDS. 


accuracy.  It  has  the  advantage  of  laying  close  to  the  boarding,  and 
nails  being  driven  just  above  the  rabbet,  splitting  is  entirely  over- 
come. If,  however,  in  case  of  accident,  one  should  be  split,  it  can  be 
readily  removed  and  replaced,  without  in  any  way  damaging  the  others. 


RESIDENCE  AT  DORCHESTER,  G.  WARREN  HAYWARD,  ARCHITECT. 

Rabbeted  clapboards  will  always  show  even  faces,  and,  besides  mak- 
ing tighter  work,  are  better  and  more  economical  to  use.  They  will 
cover  as  follows  : — 

iooo  ft.  (face  measure)  3 in.  clapboards  (2%  ins.  to  weather)  will  cover  792  sq.  ft. 

1000  ,,  ,,  „ 4 ,,  ,,  (3 Y% ) „ ,,  844  ,. 

>°oo„  .,  „ S ..  ..  (4%  „ „ - ) „ >,  875  >• 

The  plain  clapboards  will,  of  course,  cover  more  or  less  surface,  as 

they  may  be  exposed  to  the  weather. 


Cypress  Shingles. 

THESE  shingles  are  manufactured  expressly  for  us,  and  are  dried 
before  packing,  thus  making  it  more  easy  to  detect  defective 
pieces  which  might  otherwise  pass  the  inspectors  as  perfect. 
There  are  no  other  mills  which  take  the  precaution  to  dry  their  shingles 
in  this  way. 


RESIDENCE  AT  SARATOGA,  H.  LANGFORD  WARREN,  ARCHITECT. 

They  are  sawed  Q in.  thick  at  the  butt,  c8  ins.  long,  and  plump  in 
width. 

EXTRA.  Dimension  shingle.  Rift  grain.  All  heart  and  free  from 
all  defects. 

No.  i.  Put  up  in  both  dimension  and  random  widths.  First 
Quality,  differing  from  the  “ Extra  ” only  in  not  being  all  rift  sawed. 

SAP.  Dimension  shingle  ; free  from  all  defects  except  sap. 

No.  2.  Random  shingle,  3 to  7 ins.  wide;  free  from  sap,  shakes,  or 
unsound  knots  8 ins.  from  butt. 


32 


CYPRESS  SHINGLES. 


PRIME.  Dimension  shingle;  free  from  sap,  shakes,  or  unsound 
knots  8 ins.  from  butt. 

S.  L.  CO.  This  brand  measures  14  ins.  in  length,  T7ff  in.  thick  at 
butt.  Dimension  shingle,  each  width  separately  bunched,  2 '/>,  3,  4,  5, 
and  6 ins.  wide.  First  Quality.  Free  from  sap  or  other  defects. 
The  narrower  widths  of  this  brand  make  remarkably  pretty  work. 

Our  heart  cypress  shingles  will  last  two  or  three  times  as  long  as  the 
best  sawed  pine  or  cedar  and  cost  no  more  for  a like  area. 


JACOB  T.  GLINES  SCHOOL,  LORING  & PHIPPS,  ARCHITECTS. 

Below  will  be  found  the  number  of  square  feet  per  1000  pieces  which 
each  size  will  cover. 

4x18,  laid  5 ins.  to  the  weather,  will  cover  167  sq.  ft. 

5 x 18,  .,  „ „ „ „ „ 209  „ 

6 x 18,  „ „ „ „ „ „ 252  „ 

Random  widths,  8 bundles  to  the  1000,  21  in.  bands,  full  count, 
will  cover,  laid  5^  ins.,  167  sq.  ft. 

These  shingles  are  the  best  on  the  market,  and  will  last  50 
to  75  years.  There  is  no  other  kind  or  make  so  profitable  to  use. 

We  can  furnish  planed  cypress  shingles  S/%  in.  thick,  if  desired. 

Cypress  shingles  are  considered  a great  safeguard  against  the  spread 
of  fire  by  falling  sparks. 


CYPRESS  SHINGLES. 


33 


A Boston  lumber  dealer  publishes  a circular  which  incidentally  gives 
the  life  of  shingles  other  than  cypress.  We  append  that  portion  of  it 
herewith : 

California  Redwood,  25  to  30  years. 

Sawed  Pine  . . 16  ,,  20  ,, 

„ Cedar  . . 12  „ 15 

„ Spruce  . . 5 „ 7 » 

The  above  scale  has  reference  to  the  best  quality  only.  Compare  it 
with  the  life  of  our  cypress  shingles. 


On  a preceding  page,  under  the  head  of  “ Durability  of  Cypress,” 
will  be  found  an  account  of  some  cypress  shingles  which  were  removed 
from  a building  after  1 04  years  of  exposure  to  the  weather. 

We  have  used  cypress  shingles  ourselves  under  all  conditions  and 
have  furnished  many  millions  of  them  throughout  New  England  and 
the  Middle  States.  They  are  equally  well  adapted  for  interior  or  sea- 
shore locations. 

Persons  desiring  cut  or  fancy  shingles  for  walls  will  oblige  us  by 
sending  for  special  sheets  showing  our  numerous  patterns,  from  which, 
perhaps,  a selection  may  be  made.  We  can,  however,  make  any 
special  pattern  that  may  be  wanted. 


Gutters  and  Conductors. 


OUR  gutters  and  conductors  have  been  on  the  market  for  many 
years,  and  are  already  well  and  favorably  known.  They  are 
made  of  cypress  sawed  for  the  express  purpose,  and  will  be 
found  to  be  more  durable  than  iron,  which,  even  though  galvanized,  will 
rust  in  course  of  time. 


Many  attempts  have  been  made  to  substitute  other  woods  for  these 
purposes,  but  they  have  failed  to  fulfil  requirements,  and  persons  who 
have  experimented  with  the  view  of  determining  the  actual  merits  of 
the  different  woods  now  insist  upon  having  cypress. 

There  are  many  ways  of  hanging  these  gutters,  most  of  which  are 
familiar  to  those  who  have  used  them.  To  those  who  have  not  used 
them  we  shall  be  pleased  to  send  sketches  and  suggestions.  It  is  not 
necessary  to  pitch  or  incline  them  or  to  dig  them  out  in  order  to  create 
a flow  of  water.  If  put  on  level,  they  will  give  perfect  satisfaction. 

Our  conductors,  beside  being  more  durable,  make  a better,  more 
appropriate,  and  more  attractive  finish  to  a wooden  building  than 
anything  on  the  market. 

Those  using  our  conductors  should  also  use  our  malleable  conductor 
irons,  which  screw  into  the  woodwork  and  are  adjustable.  We  furnish 
these  at  about  cost,  and  no  other  iron  should  be  accepted. 


34 


Cypress  Fences. 


f OR  fence 
rails  and 
pickets, 
cypress  is  pecu- 
liarly well  adapt- 
ed. W e h a v e 
supplied  m a n y 
thousand  miles  of 
fences  to  towns 
and  cities,  rail- 
roads, cemeteries, 
corporations,  and 
individuals.  We  can  furnish  cypress  pickets  rough  or 
dressed,  in  various  widths  and  lengths,  as  may  be  desired. 
They  are  free  from  sap,  are  very  durable,  either  with  or 
without  paint,  and  cost  no  more  than  pine,  which  are 
more  or  less  sappy. 


Cypress  Columns. 

WE  can  furnish  quarter-sawed  cypress  columns  up 
to  twelve  or  fourteen  inches  in  diameter,  which 
are  very  handsome  and  much  to  be  preferred  to 
other  wood,  if  for  no  other  reason  than  their  durability. 
We  have  special  machinery  for  boring  lengthwise  through 
the  center  of  columns  and  squares  up  to 
sixteen  feet  in  length  when  it  is  desired. 

For  all  piazza  work,  sills,  etc.,  cypress 
will  be  found  to  be  better  than  any  other 
available  wood. 


Greenhouse  Stock. 


RHODE  ISLAND  GREENHOUSES,  PAWTUCKET,  R.  I. 

WE  are  furnishing  large  quantities  of  cypress  sash  bars  and 
other  stock  for  greenhouses,  hot  beds,  etc.,  and  would  re- 
spectfully ask  those  interested  in  this  particular  branch  to 
send  for  our  special  circular  showing  cuts  of  all  the  various  parts  used 
in  construction. 

We  can  furnish  cypress  sash  bars  up  to  32  ft.  in  length,  or  longer, 
and  cypress  plant  stakes,  as  desired. 


36 


Cypress  Tanks. 

(From  the  Northwestern  Lumberman.) 

There  is  one  feature  of  the  cypress  demand  that  could  be  made  much  of ; 
this  is  the  requirement  for  brewery  tanks.  White  pine  is  now  mostly  used  for 
this  purpose.  The  manufacturers  of  tanks  prefer  to  use  pine,  because  it  rots 
and  gets  out  of  repair  quicker  than  cypress.  They  say,  privately,  that  if 
cypress  were  to  become  commonly  used  much  of  their  occupation  would  be 
gone,  for  the  reason  that  cypress  lasts  forever.  In  order  to  prevent  the 
employment  of  cypress,  they  allege  that  it  is  shaky,  liable  to  split,  and  gives 
off  a bad  odor.  Each  of  these  allegations  is  wide  of  the  truth,  when  well- 
selected  cypress  is  used.  In  respect  to  purity  from  unpleasant  odor,  cypress  is 
the  best  wood  that  can  be  employed.  This  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  where 


TANKS,  CISTERNS,  DYE  TUBS. 


it  has  been  put  into  creamery  tanks  the  manufacturers  of  butter  will  use 
nothing  else.  A few  years  ago  the  brewers  of  Galveston,  Texas,  appended 
their  names  to  a circular  which  attested  the  value  of  cypress  for  the  building 
of  beer  vats,  and  their  opinion  was  spread  broadcast.  If  Northern  brewers 
were  fully  aware  of  the  peculiar  fitness  of  cypress  for  their  purpose,  they  would 
demand  it  in  every  instance.  If  Northern  dealers  were  to  take  pains  to  inform 
brewers  in  respect  to  the  adaptability  of  cypress  to  tank  making,  a large 
demand  for  thick  stock  would  soon  grow  up.” 

Cypress  is  probably  at  this  time  more  extensively  used  in  paper  mills, 
dye  houses,  etc.,  for  the  construction  of  tanks,  vats,  and  for  mill  floors 
exposed  to  dampness  than  any  other  kind  of  lumber.  It  is  also  used 
extensively  by  the  makers  of  paper  mill  machinery  and  of  creamery 
apparatus. 

Our  Tank  Department  is  very  complete. 


37 


Finishing, 


THIS  is  largely  a matter  of  individual  taste,  but  we  find  that  most 
people  prefer  the  natural  color  of  the  wood.  To  obtain  this  we 
recommend  the  use  of  pure  white  shellac,  three  or  more  coats, 
as  may  be  desired,  each  coat  to  be  smoothed  down  with  sand  paper 
and  the  final  coat  with  pumice  stone  and  oil.  This  treatment  of  the  final 


RECEPTION  ROOM,  SUMMER  RESIDENCE,  ARTHUR  G.  EVERETT,  ARCHITECT. 

coat  will  produce  a dead,  or  what  is  termed  an  “ eggshell  ” finish.  The 
final  coat  may  be  left  bright  if  so  desired.  The  wood  requires  no  filling. 

Caution  : There  are  many  so-called  painters  who  think  it  essential  to  work  some  color  into  their 
work,  and  who  will  advise  the  use  of  orange  shellac,  instead  of  white  shellac.  We  have  known  of  many 
cases  where  such  men  have  taken  the  liberty  of  using  orange  shellac  in  spite  of  explicit  instructions  to 
the  contrary.  We  advise  watchfulness  upon  the  part  of  owners,  architects,  and  builders  to  prevent  this 
if  they  desire  to  preserve  the  natural  color  of  the  wood.  It  takes  but  a moment  to  destroy  it  forever. 

38 


Staining. 

\i  A fjE  have  never  favored  the  staining  of  cypress  or  the  use  of 
»fmf  any  color  whatever  in  the  finishing  of  this  beautiful  wood. 
We  consider  it  far  too  handsome  to  disguise  in  any  way. 
Cypress  will  take  stains  well,  however,  and  we  know  of  architects 


V, 


RESIDENCE  AT  HACKENSACK,  N.  J„  F.  W.  PHELPS,  ARCHITECT. 

and  others  who  claim  to  have  produced  fine  effects  through  their  use. 

We  believe,  nevertheless,  that  we  can  eclipse  all  such  efforts  and 
produce  much  richer  effects  without  the  use  of  artificial  colors. 


39 


Painting. 


WITH  the  introduction  of  cypress  to  Northern  markets  we 
learned  from  those  who  had  never  seen  or  used  the  wood 
that  it  was  utterly  worthless.  Among  the  most  conspicuous 
faults  which  such  men  imagined  was  that  it  would  not  take  paint. 
They  urged  this  so  persistently  that  it  is  only  recently  that  we  have 
ceased  to  receive  inquiries  if  such  were  the  fact. 


With  thousands  of  buildings  now  erected,  in  New  England  alone, 
having  cypress  for  exterior  or  interior  work,  and  taking  paint  and  hold- 
ing it  better  than  any  of  the  woods  previously  in  use,  we  feel  that 
further  argument  is  unnecessary. 


RAILROAD  STATION  AT  CONCORD,  MASS.,  ALDEN  FRINK,  ARCHITECT. 


40 


Cypress. 

(From  the  St.  Louis  Lumberman , June,  1894.) 

This  word  (and  the  wood,  also)  was  a symbol  or  sign  of  both  beauty  and 
durability  in  the  times  that  are  long  past.  We  find  that  we  have  the  same 
article  now,  with  all  its  beauty  and  durability  not  in  the  least  impaired.  In 
regard  to  its  beauty  as  a wood  to  be  used  for  finishing,  we  are  tempted  to  say 


RESIDENCE  OF  DR.  T.  MORTON  HILLS,  WILLIMANTIC,  CONN. 

it  has  no  equal,  and  we  would  be  right  were  we  to  say  that  no  one  of  the 
woods  that  are  in  common  use  now  can  be  made  to  form  the  beautiful  com- 
bination of  colors  that  is  possible  with  cypress,  and  yet  use  only  those  parts 
that  are  sound  and  good. 


41 


42 


CYPRESS. 


It  is  necessary  for  the  wood  to  earn  its  own  way  in  the  markets  of  the  coun- 
try, which  it  will  certainly  do  if  it  can  have  the  assistance  of  a proper  intro- 
duction. When  a comparison  is  made  with  the  other  woods  that  are  now  in 
such  general  use  as  a finishing  material  in  the  finer  apartments  of  the  dwelling- 
house  of  to-day,  and  that  cost  so  much  more  as  to  material  and  so  much  more 
to  manufacture  and  finish  in  that  perfect  condition  that  is  required  by  the 
modern  house  builder  than  is  required  to  bring  the  cypress  to  the  same  per- 
fect condition,  the  balance  is  certainly  in  favor  of  cypress.  And  when  these 
hardwoods  have  been  brought  to  that  condition  of  finish,  there  is  a monotony 


UNITARIAN  CHURCH  AT  CHESTNUT  HILL,  CABOT,  EVERETT  & MEAD,  ARCHITECTS. 

of  color  that  is  distasteful  to  the  eye  and  would  be  changed  in  many  cases 
were  it  not  for  the  expense  attending  it.  This  is  not  so  with  cypress,  as  it 
can  be  selected  and  used  with  sufficient  care  to  break  all  monotony  or  same- 
ness in  its  appearance.  The  red,  white,  and  very  dark  may  be  made  to  blend 
so  beautifully  by  the  artistic  selection  of  color  that  the  eye  can  never  tire  look- 
ing at  it,  but  every  look  cast  upon  it  cause  greater  admiration.  In  regard  to 
its  cost  compared  with  the  other  woods,  it  ranks  in  price  cheaper  than  any 
hardwoods,  and  is,  in  fact,  being  manufactured  and  placed  on  the  market  in 
competition  with  the  cheapest  factor}-  wood  of  the  North  and  West,  — white 
pine. 


CYPRESS. 


43 


When  these  facts  (which  are  fully  established  to  the  trade  of  the  few  States 
that  have  had  it  in  use  for  many  years)  are  as  well  known  and  established  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  country  at  large,  it  will  not  then  be  necessary  to  sing  its 
praises.  And  from  the  signs  of  the  times  we  read  that  the  tide  has  turned 
and  that  the  near  future  will  see  a condition  of  prosperity  such  as  the  most 
sanguine  prophet  of  the  future  of  cypress  little  dreamed.  The  indications,  to 


SCHOOLHOUSE.  NEWTON  HIGHLANDS,  HARTWELL,  RICHARDSON  & DRIVER,  ARCHITECTS. 

those  who  are  watching  its  movements  with  an  anxious  eye,  are  very  encourag- 
ing at  the  present  time,  as  we  have  evidence  that  the  demand  is  increasing 
from  day  to  day  for  the  manufactured  goods,  as  they  are  now  offered  to  the 
trade  by  those  factories  that  have  foreseen  the  possibilities  and  prepared  for 
the  cheapest  and  most  improved  mode  of  making  the  goods  from  cypress  in 
its  most  beautiful  forms  and  in  the  most  durable  manner.  The  cypress  trade 
is  steadily  increasing  through  the  legitimate  agencies  employed  for  this  pro- 
motion, to  such  an  extent  that  those  who  are  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
the  other  cheap  woods  are  becoming  alarmed  at  its  encroachment  upon  their 


44 


CYPRESS. 


territory,  and  are  casting  about  for  the  opportunity  of  manufacturing  the 
cypress  goods  themselves.  This  is  the  very  best  evidence  that  the  public  are 
learning  to  appreciate  its  merits  and  demand  its  use  in  their  work.  The 
increased  orders  that  are  coming  from  new  territory,  the  many  and  varied 
inquiries  that  are  received  in  regard  to  the  wood  and  its  possibilities  are  cer- 
tain evidence  that  in  the  near  future  the  cypress  trade  will  have  all  the  busi- 
ness they  can  care  for.  The  States  bordering  on  the  cypress  territory  are  now 


RESIDENCE  AT  SPRINGFIELD,  S.  E.  WALTON,  ARCHITECT. 


the  objective  point  or  the  battle-ground  between  the  cypress  and  white  pine 
trade.  The  feeling  in  regard  to  the  two  is  in  the  balances  (cypress  a little  the 
heavier),  and  at  the  same  price  for  the  goods  the  cypress  man  generally  books 
the  order;  so  that  the  trade  is  gradually  but  surely  growing,  and  a continua- 
tion of  the  manufacture  of  the  goods  in  the  first-class  manner  adopted  b} 
some  of  the  factories  will  not  only  hold  the  trade  already  secured,  but  contin- 
ually add  to  it. 


CYPRESS. 


45 


The  Tradesman  of  Nov.  15,  1891,  prints  the  following  article, 
prepared  by  Mr.  Richard  Hines,  which  contains  much  of  interest 
regarding  cypress : — 

“ Owing  to  its  beautiful  finish,  its  durability,  and  lightness,  cypress  timber 
has  long  been  in  favor  in  the  Gulf  coast  States  of  the  South,  is  fast  growing  in 
favor  in  the  more  Northern  States,  especially  among  those  who  have  tested 
and  know  its  many  good  qualities,  and  is  beginning  to  supply  the  place  of 
white  pine  to  Northern  builders.  Cypress  is  specially  adapted  to  building 


ST.  MARY'S  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  DORCHESTER,  HENRY  VAUGHN,  ARCHITECT. 

tanks,  tubs,  and  vats,  and  when  used  for  such  purposes  it  will  never  decay.  It 
also  makes  better  sash,  doors,  blinds,  and  frames  than  white  pine.  A great 
many  railroads  use  it  for  water  tanks,  and  it  is  also  used  for  ties  and  bridge 
timbers.  It  is  used  all  over  the  lower  South  for  shingles,  and  in  ever}'  instance 
where  a fine  finishing  lumber  is  desired.  It  stands  the  weather  better  than 
white  pine,  does  not  warp  or  twist,  and  does  not  shrink  or  swell  after  being 
once  thoroughly  seasoned.  Exposed  to  the  weather,  it  will  last  twice  as  long 
as  white  pine,  and  makes  better  shingles,  tank  stuff,  fence  posts,  etc. 

“Very  few  Northern  people  understand  the  nature  of  cypress.  It  is  easiest 
described  as  a water  cedar,  growing  in  swamps.  It  has  the  durable  qualities 


46 


CYPRESS. 


of  red  cedar,  combined  with  lightness  and  softness  of  white  pine,  but  it  has  a 
great  advantage  over  white  pine  in  that  its  lasting  quality  is  three  times  as 
great.  No  lumber  in  the  world  equals  it  for  siding  or  weather  boards,  exposed 
floors  or  shingles.  Siding  can  be  used  and  not  painted,  and  it  will  last  fifty 
years.  If  painted,  the  paint  will  not  crack  or  peel  off,  nor  will  the  sap  of  the 


RESIDENCE,  NEWTON  HIGHLANDS,  GEO.  R.  CLARKE,  ARCHITECT. 

wood  show  through  the  paint,  as  in  the  case  of  yellow  pine.  The  durability  of 
the  cypress  shingle  is  illustrated  by  the  examples  of  roofs  here  and  in  New 
Orleans,  in  good  order,  laid  sixty  years  ago. 

“ Probably  the  largest  body  of  cypress  is  in  the  Teche  country  of  Louisiana, 
and  lies  west  of  the  Mississippi  River,  from  the  Lafourche  on  the  south  to 
Red  River  on  the  north,  extending  west  to  the  Gulf  coast.  About  the  only 
other  localities  having  cypress  timber  are  Mobile,  Vicksburg,  Natchez,  certain 
places  on  streams  tributary  to  the  Mississippi,  Amite,  La.,  Lake  Charles,  La., 


CYPRESS. 


47 


Orange  and  Beaumont,  Texas,  and  small  tracts  in  North  Carolina,  South 
Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Florida.  In  the  latter  State  the  wood  grows  along  the 
St.  Johns  River,  and,  in  fact,  anywhere  along  the  streams  and  in  the  swamps. 
The  quality  is  said  to  be  very  fine.  Tributary  to  Mobile  there  is  a plentiful 
supply  of  cypress  in  the  glades  along  the  river  sides  as  far  north  as  Tuscaloosa. 

Cypress  timber  grows  very  tall,  straight,  and  thick,  in  isolated  patches  or 
groups  called  ‘brakes,’  in  the  shallow  swamps,  lakes,  and  bayous,  usually  in 
from  one  to  five  feet  of  water,  and,  under  favorable  conditions,  attains  an 


TWO  RESIDENCES  AT  DORCHESTER,  A.  WARREN  GOULD,  ARCHITECT. 

enormous  size.  The  trunk  is  straight  and  without  limbs  often  to  a height  of 
75  ft.  or  more,  and  large  trees  measure  120  ft.  in  height,  and  25  ft.  and  over 
in  circumference  about  the  conical  base,  which  at  the  ground  is  often  three  or 
four  times  the  diameter  of  the  trunk.  Authorities  disagree  as  to  the  varieties, 
some  claiming  that  there  are  three  kinds.  — red,  white  or  yellow,  and  black,  — 
while  others  claim  that  they  take  their  names  from  the  color  of  their  heart 
wood,  which  varies  according  to  soil  and  conditions.  The  white  or  yellow 
variety  grows  largely  in  Arkansas,  while  the  red  and  black  varieties  are  found 
in  Louisiana  and  other  Gulf  States. 

“ The  method  of  getting  cypress  out  is  as  follows : The  swampers,  who  are 


48 


CYPRESS. 


a hardy  set,  generally  go  in  the  swamps  in  August  to  ‘ deaden  ’ and  * trail.’ 
The  former  term  signifies  the  undercutting,  or  cutting  the  tree  half  down,  and 
then  ‘girdling’  it.  The  latter  is  to  cut  the  ‘ knees  ’ or  cypress  spurs  and 
undergrowth  close  to  the  ground,  making  a trail  or  road  for  each  tree  out  into 
the  main  roads.  All  this  is  done  in  the  fall.  When  the  water  rises  in  the 
spring  the  trees  are  cut  down,  sawn  off,  and  floated  out  to  the  bayous  or  lakes, 
where  they  are  rafted  ready  for  the  towboat  or  to  be  floated  to  the  mills  by 
raftsmen.  Ten  trees  usually  make  a ‘crib.’  They  are  fastened  together 
with  ‘binders’  laid  across  them,  holes  are  bored  through  them  into  logs,  and 
a 2 in.  pin,  14  ins.  long,  driven  in.  On  the  rivers  tributary  to  Mobile  it  requires 
a very  high  stage  of  water  to  reach  the  best  cypress,  and  nearly  all  the  cypress 
that  reaches  this  market  is  rafted  down  the  rivers.  When  the  rafts  of  cypress 
have  been  gotten  out  of  the  creeks  and  bayous  into  the  main  streams  they  are 
secured  to  await  a fall  in  the  rivers,  as  the  rafting  to  market  cannot  be  safely 
done  at  a very  high  stage  of  water,  the  current  then  being  so  strong  as  to 
endanger  the  breaking  up  and  consequent  loss  of  the  logs. 

“ ‘ Brakes  ’ of  white  cypress  are  to  be  found  in  Arkansas,  containing  from 
25  to  100,000.000  ft.,  but  this  variety  of  cypress  is  said  to  be  limited,  and 
there  are  probably  not  more  than  2,000,000,000  or  2,500,000,000  ft.  in  that 
State.  The  timber  will  average  about  6,000  ft.  to  the  acre. 

“ One  peculiarity  about  cypress  is  the  uncertainty  of  the  supply.  The  history 
of  cypress  freshets  have  been  examined  into,  and  it  has  been  ascertained  that 
they  come  about  every  ten  years.  There  is  high  water  every  year,  and  some 
cypress  is  gotten  out  annually,  but  the  floods,  which  go  back  all  over  the 
swamp  lands,  and  stay  there  long  enough  to  permit  of  a fine  cut  of  timber,  do 
not  come  oftener  than  once  a decade.-’ 


The  Cypress  Tree. 

SOM  K years  ago  there  appeared  the  following  article  in  the  American 
Lumberman,  by  Prof.  Charles  Gayarre,  which  is  correct  in  essen- 
tial particulars,  and  which  will  serve  to  give  those  who  choose 
to  read  a fair  idea  of  the  nature  of  the  cypress  tree  and  the  conditions 
under  which  it  flourishes. 


RESIDENCE  AT  BROOKLINE,  A.  G.  BREWER,  ARCHITECT. 

“ The  cypress  is  a deciduous  tree,  indigenous  of  Louisiana  and  the  States 
bordering  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Webster  says  in  his  dictionary  : ■ It  is  the 
popular  name  of  a genus  of  plants  or  trees.  The  most  remarkable  are  the 
sempervirens,  or  common  cypress,  the  evergreen,  American  cypress,  or  while 


49 


5° 


THE  CYPRESS  TREE. 


cedar , and  the  distchia,  or  deciduous  American  cypress.  The  wood  of  these 
trees  is  remarkable  for  its  durability.  The  coffins  in  which  the  Athenian 
heroes  and  the  mummies  of  Egypt  were  deposited  are  said  to  have  been 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  AT  NEWTONVILLE,  HARTWELL  & RICHARDSON,  ARCHITECTS. 

made  of  the  first  species.’  The  lexicographer  might  have  added  that  Solomon 
preferred  that  wood  for  the  building  of  the  famous  temple  which  he  erected  to 
God  in  Jerusalem. 

“ The  growth  of  the  cypress  extends  a considerable  distance  up  the  valleys 
of  our  Southern  rivers.  It  is  quite  a large  tree,  averaging  from  3 to  5 ft. 


THE  CYPRESS  TREE. 


5 1 


in  diameter,  and  some  trees  are  exceptionally  large, — having  a diameter  of 
6,  7,  and  S ft.  I measured  one  whose  circumference  was  27  ft. 

The  cypress  grows  in  the  bottom  lands,  sometimes  in  standing  water,  and 
also  on  lands  that  are  not  Hooded.  There  are  two  notable  varieties,  — the 
white  or  yellow,  growing  in  water  and  in  the  lowest  places,  and  the  red. 


REAR  OF  RESIDENCE  AT  DORCHESTER,  G.  WARREN  HAYWARD,  ARCHITECT. 


growing  in  the  higher  lands.  The  wood  of  this  tree  is  of  a red  color,  some- 
what harder  than  the  white,  and  does  not  float  readily  on  account  of  its 
weight.  The  cypress  grows  well  only  in  rich  soils,  and  the  high  lands  where 
it  is  found  are  the  very  best  lands  in  this  State.  This  timber  is  most  excel- 
lent for  fine  work,  such  as  furniture,  counters,  shelving,  and  wainscoting.  It  is 
susceptible  of  receiving  a high  polish,  which  brings  out  its  beautiful  veins  and 
designs.  As  this  wood  does  not  split  easily  across  the  grain,  it  is  well  adapted 
to  carving.  Exposed  to  the  weather,  it  is  almost  everlasting.  Shingles  of 


THE  CYPRESS  TREE. 


52 

well-selected  timber  will  last  fifty  years.  Picket  fences  sunk  in  the  ground 
will  last  more  than  twenty-five  years,  if  all  the  sap  is  removed. 

“ Cypress  is  much  stronger  than  white  pine,  and  in  our  market  is  worth  more 
than  twice  as  much  ; it  has  more  elasticity  : it  is  nailed  without  splitting  ; it  does 
not  warp  at  all ; it  does  not  readily  absorb  moisture.  When  sawed  up  into  planks 
and  piled  up  exposed  to  the  weather,  it  does  not  warp  and  crack.  It  is  exclu- 
sively used  in  Louisiana  for  hogsheads,  barrels,  tanks,  or  cisterns,  etc. 


RESIDENCE  AT  FALL  RIVER,  WM.  R.  WALKER  &.  SON,  ARCHITECTS. 

“ It  has  been  worked  into  very  good  sounding  boards  for  violins.  And  the 
roots  of  the  tree  are  said  to  be  excellent  for  veneering,  for  making  corks  and 
razor  straps. 

“ There  is  a particular  season  for  felling  the  trees  in  order  to  obtain  lumber 
of  a good  quality.  It  is  late  in  the  fall  or  in  the  beginning  of  the  winter, 
when  the  sap  is  solidified.  If  cut  earlier  and  suffered  to  lie  on  the  ground 
some  time,  the  sap  is  attacked  by  a very  small  worm  ; but  if  seasoned  after 


THE  CYPRESS  TREE. 


53 


being  sawed,  both  the  heart  and  sap  of  the  tree  can  be  used  profitably.  The 
sap.  however,  may  rot  quickly  if  externally  exposed  to  the  heat  and  moisture 
of  the  atmosphere. 

“ A third  variety  of  cypress  is  of  smaller  size,  harder  and  close  grained  — 
suitable  for  exquisite  fancywork. 

••  The  trees  growing  on  the  high  lands  make  the  most  lasting  timber.  It 
contains  a small  quantity  of  gum,  resembling  much  that  of  pine,  and  making 
it  almost  imperishable. 

The  trees  grow  very  large  at  the  bottom,  and  are  often  hollow  to  the 
height  of  four  or  five  feet,  but  above  that  they  are  solid.  The  trunks  of  the 
large  trees  are  fifty  feet  or  more  up  to  seventy-five  feet  in  height,  without  branches, 
and  usually  perfectly  straight.  In  places  where  the  trees  are  comparatively 
slender  in  size  they  grow  close  together  and  attain  a greater  height.  Spots 
could  be  selected  where  the  standing  trees  would  be  sufficient,  when  felled,  to 
build  a two-story  house  on  the  area  on  which  they  stood. 

••  This  timber  is  universally  used  for  making  picket  fences.  The  logs  being 
cut  in  ten-foot  sections,  the  pickets  are  split  by  skimming  and  going  round  the 
log,  in  thickness  of  two  inches  or  more.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  split  the 
log  centrally  like  oak  or  other  timber.  For  clapboards  or  shingles  it  splits 
perfectly  straight  and  as  thin  as  can  be  desired. 

“ Pirogues,  or  hunting  boats,  are  made  from  the  large  cypresses  by  scooping 
them.  These  boats  form  but  one  solid  piece  and  are  as  strong  as  they  are 
light. 

“ The  French  and  Spanish  authorities  never  failed,  during  a hundred  years 
of  colonial  rule,  to  recommend  to  their  respective  governments  the  cypress 
timber  as  one  of  the  most  valuable  that  could  be  found.  My  surprise,  there- 
fore. was  very  great  when  I lately  ascertained  that  this  wood  in  the  Northern 
and  Western  lumber  markets  was  almost  entirely  unknown  to  architects  and 
lumbermen,  who,  for  purposes  of  construction,  attach  so  much  importance  to 
white  pine,  which  is  so  vastly  inferior  to  white  or  red  cypress.  I could  show 
the  architects  and  lumbermen  houses  in  New  Orleans  that  were  built  of 
cypress  in  toto  more  than  one  hundred  years  ago,  and  the  materials  are  as 
sound  as  on  the  first  day  on  which  they  were  used  — down  to  the  very  founda- 
tions.” 


SUMMER  RESIDENCE  AT  AN NAWOMSCUTT,  GEN.  WM.  R.  WALKER. 


► 


SLOOP  YACHT,  BUILT  OF  CYPRESS,  STEM  TO  STERN. 

54 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  AT  WINTER  HILL, 
HARTWELL, 'RICHARDSON  & DRIVER,  ARCHITECTS. 


55 


RESIDENCE,  THOMAS  L.  BARLOW,  ARCHITECT. 


RESIDENCE  AT  WABAN,  H.  LANGFORD  WARREN,  ARCHITECT. 


56 


SCHOOLHOUSE  AT  EVERETT,  J.  C.  SPOFFORD,  ARCHITECT. 

57 


A STREET  OF  CYPRESS  HOUSES  AT  SOMERVILLE. 

58 


RESIDENCE  AT  BROOKLINE,  A.  G.  BREWER,  ARCHITECT. 


APARTMENT  HOUSES. 


59 


HOSPITAL  AT  WEST  ROXBURY,  LITTLEFIELD  BUILDING  CO.,  BUILDERS. 


RESIDENCE  AT  DORCHESTER. 

6o 


A STREET  OF  CYPRESS  HOUSES  AT  DORCHESTER. 

61 


A METHOD  OF  APPLYING  CYPRESS  GUTTERS. 

62 


■acta 


A METHOD  OF  APPLYING  CYPRESS  GUTTERS. 


AVERY  LIBRARY 
COLUMBIA  UNIVKJify 


The  Barta  Press,  Boston. 


* 


